It’s time to dust off your swatch and get your Members Only jacket drycleaned, because RADwood Austin is coming back to Circuit of the Americas in two weeks. If you’re anywhere within a 2,000-mile radius (i.e., within Texas), you should be at COTA on November 15th for all the fun. If you’ve got a great car from the era, then I’m sure you’re already signed up, but let’s have a little fun and try to imagine what the perfect car would be.
And, since there’s a sweet fashion contest, bonus points for being able to match the perfect outfit with the perfect car. As someone who grew up in Texas in the ’80s and ’90s, this hits me pretty hard, and I have a lot of ideas. I look at some of the totally tubular rides at last year’s event, and I can almost taste the 400 grams I inhaled with each bowl of Rainbow Brite back then.
My initial thought was an SSP Fox Body Mustang, and The Bishop’s piece on that patrol car took me back to the days I used to help my dad look out for the Dr. Pepper Squad hiding out behind billboards on Highway 59. That, plus a period-correct uniform, would be great.
However, there’s one even rarer truck you’d sometimes see on Texas roads growing up, and the sight of one never failed to make my head snap. I’m talking, of course, about the Mexican-market Dodge Ramcharger. This is a second-generation Dodge Ram done up as an SUV. Not only does it have the incredible “big rig” style hood, it’s also a two-door for some reason?
These allegedly existed with both a four-speed manual and Dodge’s beloved 5.9-liter V8, though I’m not 100% sure you could get both. The smaller V8 with the manual would still be quite excellent.
That, and dressing up like Edward James Olmos from Selena with the overpatterned short-sleeved collared tee and whiskey-colored glasses would be perfect. It takes me back to my days growing up in Corpus Christi.
Now it’s your turn. What’s the perfect RADwood Austin ride/outfit combo?
And, as a reminder from Hagerty, who is partnering with us on this post:
Celebrate the 80s & 90s at RADwood AustinBust out the Ray-Bans and crank up the mixtape because RADwood® Austin is back at Circuit of The Americas for our 6th annual bash — and it’s gonna be totally bodacious.Get ready for wicked rides from the ’80s and ’90s, killer jams straight out of your Walkman days, and a fashion contest glow-up that’s bigger and badder than ever before. We’re leveling up with VIP hospitality, expanded awards, and plenty more rad surprises.November 15 | 11am – 3:30pm CT
Circuit of The Americas | Austin, TX
Also let me know in the comments if you’re already planning to go!
Top photo: Hagerty
I think there are three genres of really enticing RADwood cars:
Many cars cover more than one genre, and I’m sure there are some that hit all 3.
I’d prefer to take the pinnacle of one of those. In order, I’d take:
Peugeot 205 Rallye. A hot hatchback featuring unassisted steering, factory Weber carbs and all the other clichés like short gear ratios, thin pillars, low beltline, curb weight under 1800lb, and no 3-letter acronyms. This is a car I could stand by all day and wax poetic about induction noises and steering feedback, and I’ve never driven one! It loses points for having the decadent luxuries of vacuum-assisted brakes, and doesn’t gain the bonus points for extinct category, seeing as hot hatchbacks still exist.
Volvo 245 Turbo or Saab 99 Turbo. Everyone knows someone who had a 240, and the turbo version doesn’t look appreciably different, so you can score the wombo-combo “my teacher had one” and “I didn’t know these came with a turbo!”. The Saab is definitely in the “I think my ex-girlfriend’s cousin drove one” sub-genre.
Nissan 300ZX. 24 valves, 4 camshafts, 4-wheel steering, the flattest headlights ever (source: Hashimoto-San told me so in a dream), and delightfully weird interior. You even get a second fuel gauge, that only measures the last quarter of the tank! I’d be delighted to drive that car into Y2K. A Toyota Sera would be a nice budget alternative, with its lovely glass dome and butterfly doors.
It may be possible to hit every category, how about the AE86 with optional digital dashboard? It was a semi-common, affordable compact with delightfully futuristic ideas (20-valve engine, digital dash, pop-up lights) and lovely retro driving (unassisted steering, lightweight body, live axle rear). It’s the most expected car there, nobody will be surprised to see you, but it’ll definitely fit in.
This is a great selection. Bravo (and not the FIAT type)
1989 Taurus SHO, the first body style.
https://media.hagerty.com/media/wp-content/uploads/uscamediasite/images/story-images/2018/04/midsize-muscle(5)20180411140352
Teal Chevy Beretta!
I was going to say Teal Camaro. My uncle had an ’91 or ’92 teal RS.
The convertible teal Camaro is one of my all-time favorites
At first I read this as “what’s the perfect car to take to radwood autism” and I was like, brother, you show up with a clean 1988 Fiero GT, an engine swapped DeLorean or anything rotary and I’ll be handing you my true name like you’re the Scottish fae.
I will show up with my painter’s cap, mountaineering-type sunglasses with the leather side shades, Jamz shorts, and Vans sneakers.
If I’m lucky, my girlfriend will be wearing her faded jean jacket over a tank top, a black Boy George hat (with a rat tail), faded and strategically shredded jeans and white Reeboks. She will also have multicolored gummy bracelets. Far too many gummy bracelets…
We will be driving a 1982 Pontiac J2000 Hatchback, dark blue, that has a factory tape deck.
I will want to listen to Van Halen, but my GF wants to listen to Madonna.
That, folks, is 1984.
80’s kitch: Anything with giant TURBO!! decals.
early 90’s kitch: Anything with giant DOHC 16V!! decals.
And louvers, gold Enkei mesh rims and a faux plastic car phone or pager.
Saturn. Wagon. Preferably the original in SW2 twin-cam manual trim in ’90s teal.
1987 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with a 5 speed. Silver, with black trim and a red stripe. Aftermarket Clarion CD radio. Exactly like I had back when I too was rad.
Izod shirt in some pastel color, JC Penney jeans, Puma sneakers.
I would dearly love to rock up in a Suzuki Samurai.
Teal, white top.
With a magenta and neon blue heartbeat graphic down both sides.
The VECTOR would be my whip. Poster in my dorm room, I could still draw it from memory. Dry clean my black leather pants, polish the penny loafers, two days of facial stubble and I’m getting jiggy with it.
My problem with Radwood is that people have basteridized the definition of what RAD is, to be inclusive. Now people show up with old lady super mint 1993 Corollas at Radwood meets. Sorry, that was never rad, will never be rad, it has to be rad!
80s/90s COOL cars only.
’93 corolla sounds pretty rad to me.
It isn’t. It’s an econobox. There is nothing rad about it. At no point in the 80s or 90s did someone see a boring plain jane corolla and go “OMG, so Rad!”
I’ve never owned one, but if I did I bet I could have elicited that response in the 90’s
A Merc is an econobox to the 1% how are you defining what should be presented?
Check out the festival of the unexceptional on youtube for instance.
For whatever it’s worth, nobody saw my 68 Valiant in 1970 (or 1990 for that matter) and said “that’s a cool car” but now that all the econoboxes that were mass produced have been crushed, it’s a cool car. Radwood certainly wouldn’t be fun if it was all Camrys but the mint examples of average cars are what let’s everyone participate
Weird thing is I get people chatting to me about my Corolla Alltrac Wagon all the time – Toyota even borrow it for car tests. https://www.drive.com.au/reviews/2018-toyota-c-hr-v-1988-toyota-corolla-sr5-4wd-wagon-comparison/
Oh it’s interesting. It just doesn’t belong at Radwood. Radwood is for mostly high perf stuff from that time period.
Remind me again when your car show is on?
Not sure what you are asking.
You are gatekeeping what gets to be shown so perhaps you should start your own show of 80’s supercars.
Hard disagree. Like rock hard. Throbbing even.
As an organizer of local RADwood-style events I can tell you that few things get as much attention as the Luminas, Tempos, Celebrities, K-cars and other mundane models that show up. This is true to such an extent that I had to create the “Regular Prize” category just to honor such cars.
I admit that 90s Corollas are a little less interesting simply because they’re just not that uncommon to see here even in 2025.
Those get attention, sure, but they aren’t rad.
ADDvanced, You literally have an organizer of Radwood telling you that your take is wrong – maybe you need to start your own performance car show.
I don’t care who he is. I lived in the 80s and 90s. Nobody gave a shit about your Dodge Dynasty back then. It isn’t rad.
Radwood was ORIGINALLY 80s/90s performance go fast stuff. Then the weirdos who aren’t even really car enthusiasts started showing up with the teal Mercury Topaz they inherited from grandma, and since society has to be ‘inclusive’ to everyone so nobody has their feelings hurt, it was widened to allow all this non-rad shit.
It’s not rad tho. Never will be. Never was.
Oh, it’s a DEI issue and you want to make car shows ‘great’ again because it’s ruined by regular people enjoying themselves.
Radwoods only been going for 10 years. You are confused – read TriangleRADs post. Exclusive car shows have always been going and if they aren’t in your area it’s because people are bored with Mustangs and Cobras and the like.
I have no idea what you’re talking about, but imma die on this hill, dude.
FACTS: RAD means RADICAL which means: “extreme, especially as regards change from accepted or traditional forms.”
Plain jane, everyday normal MF stuff is by literal definition, NOT radical or a massive departure from the norm.
Go ahead and keep using words incorrectly with made up definitions that aren’t in dictionaries though, I guess. But you’re wrong.
DEI – Because you keep going on about Inclusivity being bad.
The name ‘Radwood’ is tongue in cheek. Hence the use of ‘wood’ to parody the UK’s Goodwood event – do you think only cars that hillclimb in Goodwood should be shown?. Rad is used as a signifier of a certain time – My AI says it means “cool or awesome”. you could have a Rad Lambo Contach but also a rad sticker pack on your Festiva. A mullet hairstyle or a new ZZtop tape was Rad. Non of those last items were extreme. Rad stopped being used in the early 90’s onwards.
You’re trying to make something political, when I am talking about cool cars vs lame ass schlock?
You can PRETEND boring commuter cars are rad, but that is not true. Again, the definition of hte word is extreme, or a departure from the norm. Mullets actually do fit this definition, because it’s an extreme departure from the norm.
I never stopped using the word rad, so I guess I’m an expert on this subject, since I am using the definition correctly and you want to apply it to anything you want, whenever you want.
They were rad to the kids that actually used that word, who were using those mundane machines to learn to drive, get to school, and get into shenanigans with their friends during those decades.
No, they were not. I was one of those kids. Most cars from that time period were in no way rad.
I was one of those kids too. Having a car, any car, was rad.
You sit on a throne of lies.
Wasn’t this the whole idea of Radwood? that well looked after 1980’s cars that were common and relatable but now hard to find presented and making affordable rather than the expensive supercars for the elite shows for single makes where beardstrokers snob each other off.
The best shows I’ve been to are in Japan near Tokyo where all cars are welcome.
Yes, I believe so. It’s less then decade old too. The wood part is supposed relate goodwood because it’s so snobby and it basically started as counter culture event to that. In a funny irony a lot of people associate the wood part with the fake wood stickers so many the 80s to mid 90s cars had. The Japanese impromptu car shows are the best. You never know what you will see. There are some that happen in the US typically by boba places.
The one I went to in Odaiba, Tokyo on the way to the Toyota Megaweb was awesome all cars were immaculate and parked in no real order. Some highlights include.
Original Mini Cooper S*
Overlanding Kei pickup trucks*
Lowered Volvo 760 Wagon with 3 spoke wheels*
Toyota sports 800
Porsche 959 (911) no mods
Citroen 2CV Charleston*
Flaming Chicken Trans AM
BMW E30 323i Wagon with white leather interior
Chevy Van*
Citroen GS*
VW Mk1 Golf GLS*
Nissan Bluebird Mk1*
Nissan Rasheen with Hummer body kit.*
*Regular car.
Completely disagree. Radwood started as an fun ’80’s centric inclusive car show for the everyman to wear a muscle shirt with some neon graphics and appreciate the disappearing seemingly everyday cars of more recent times enjoying each others rides whatever they are.
You are talking about a standard car show where snobby single makes owners pontificate about how there car is the best because it is one of 50 Mustangs of a certain colour built in a certain week stroking each others beards before doing a burnout into the nearest crowd on exit.
Hence -Festival of the unexceptional is one of the best car shows in the world.
yes. and “rad’ as in “radical” is a word that means getting down to the root, the inherent fundamentals. It’s even related to the word “radish”, the root vegetable. So yeah, sounds like a ’93 Corolla to me.
Those aren’t rad. Never will be.
My favorite from the Charlotte Radwoods was the Testarossa. Brings back memories of the 80s like nothing else.
From ’23? Three were several incredible Ferraris there. That 512…
Yeah, the show at Hendrick was great, so many great cars, the Ferraris, Lambosm Deloreans. This year at the Speedway was cool too but the bigger show around it drew a lot of cars away.
Yeah I saw lots of cars in the general AutoFair area that should have been in Radwood. I even talked to some people who said that if they’d known about Radwood, they would have been in there. Not that there was all that much room in the Radwood section, anyway. On the other hand, making it part of the larger AutoFair allowed us to make a whole weekend of it, with the swap meet and all the other events happening. And of coure the venue of being on the speedway infield was hard to beat. The TriangleRAD club brought 16 cars in total and went home with 4 trophies. We had a great time.
1977 Ranchero Squire is the best answer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQB5bnrjOpZ/
I’m bringing my ‘89 VW Fox wagon in silver.
A vintage MY2024 Cybertruck… because Austin has lost its charm and sucks now.
1983 Chevrolet Citation X11 – dark brown/tan 2 tone.
Puffy Ski Jacket – light blue
Gameboy – mild screen burn
Big Gulp – sweating
A 1984 Chrysler Laser XE Turbo. Preferably chocolate brown, like the one I used to own, but silver like the one Kenny Rogers drives in the “We Are The World” documentary would work too.
I’d also accept the late 80s/early 90s Plymouth variant. Popups baby!
The Plymouth Laser is a completely different platform. It’s a DSM.
Pride of Normal, IL! Still rad though, just a different theme.
Very rad. A good friend of mine has a super clean red 1990 Plymouth Laser RS.
I’m a big fan of the first gen of these, as the lines were so clean and IIRC, no spoiler on the Plymouth version at least? The dash remains one of my all-time favorites…I love its James Cameron Aliens tech look.
No spoiler on the Plymouth model. You RC. Super clean look with the gray mesh wheels.
That was never rad tho
Says you.
I was there. Facts > feelings.
I remember drooling over the new Laser in a Chrysler showroom back then. I think my favorite of that generation though is the Daytona Turbo Z like Sinatra drove in Canonball Run II, or Packard Walsh in The Wraith, with the cheese grater wheels. My uncle had an ’86 in that cool burnt orange color they did back then.
That’s easy, Dodge Dakota Sport convertible.
My vote would go to the 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme International Series Sedan 3.4 Twin Dual Cam V6
Or failing that… a 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais International Series Sedan 2.3 Quad 4
Why?
To win the ‘longest model name’ competition.
Having once owned that exact Calais (except mine was an ’88), I can get behind this.
I live in Central Texas now (formerly North Texas) and was excited that I would be close enough to Austin to day-trip to RADwood. So of course that’s the one Saturday I work this month. Ugh
Start coughing now. Bring eye drops to work to make your eyes water. Sniff a tiny amount of white pepper every day for the next 9 days.
Call in sick on the 14th. We’ll see you there.
If I had a different job, I totally would. But I work Parts at a dealership and will literally be the only person at work on “my” Saturday. One of the service writers got fired when he had someone lined up to work “his” Saturday and they flaked.
The dankest, skankiest, jankest Nissan 240SX you can find.
You forgot stankiest.
The obvious choice of car given the reference to Matt Houston is a1982 Excalibur Phaeton IV. And you better be rocking an impressive mustache to go with that black Members Only jacket.
On Swangas, please
NO. Swangas shall be damned to Hell!!!
There are cars that are distinctly 80’s, such as the W8 Vector, but the ‘perfect’ car would be the one I wanted to drive there and back, while still being iconic. 288 GTO? Countach Quattrovalvole? 930 Turbo or a 959? I had a poster back then with those three cars, captioned, “Decisions, decisions, decisions…” It stuck with me. Older me would choose a Testarossa, Porsche 928, or BMW e28 M5.
See, THOSE are all Rad cars and appropriate for Radwood.
A triple-black 560SL
You be Madonna – I’ll be Sean Penn.
https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/19466/lot/328/given-to-madonna-by-sean-penn1987-mercedes-benz-560sl-convertible-chassis-no-wdbba48d6ha064424/
Clearly it’s a Bronco II
I had one at 16. 5 speed 4X4 custom. I miss it.